MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. | Florida Memorial football has named Jameel Smith as Co-Defensive Coordinator.
"I'm thankful to head coach Bobby Rome, our athletic director Jason Horn, and the Florida Memorial community for this opportunity," said Smith. "I'm excited to get to work and mentor the next generation of leaders in the Lion family as we strive to become the standard."
"Jabo" Smith first came to FMU as defensive backs coach and special teams coordinator of the football team in July of 2022, joining head coach Bobby Rome's first coaching staff. Smith came to FMU after serving a season as cornerbacks coach and defensive passing game coordinator at Ave Maria University (2021-2022), transitioning to full secondary duties at the conclusion of the 2021 season.
Smith is a Miami native who attended Youngstown State University. During his playing experience, Smith was a four-year starter for the Penguins earning defensive captain and all-conference accolades.
He was a key contributor to the rebirth of the YSU National championship run in 2017, as they faced JMU in the National Championship. Two months after graduating from Youngstown State, Smith started his coaching career as defensive backs coach at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College in Miami, Oklahoma.
Within his first season, Smith was able to improve the teams' pass defense from second to last, finishing number one in pass defense, while also completing the season as SWJCFC champions in 2017.
Smith would then return home to enter his first year on the high school ranks. While at Miami Carol City, he was able to mentor and develop the top secondary unit in Dade County.
Doing so landed him the opportunity to become the defensive coordinator at his alma mater, Miami Norland, where he was able to develop an aggressive unit and win the Tri-County Championship.
In his senior year, Smith was a two-way starter for Miami Norland. The Vikings finished the season with an undefeated record of 15-0 and a Florida High School 5-A state championship title in 2011.
"Coach Smith was a defensive team captain and team leader under the great defensive mind Bo Pelini at Youngstown State," said head coach Bobby Rome. "Coach Smith is a very knowledgeable coach and an outstanding recruiter, and I feel he will continue to connect with our younger student-athletes as we build this program."
Smith's first year as co-defensive coordinator on the collegiate level brings a great mind of the game, being coached by a caliber of coaches such as Bo Pelini, Richard Mcnutt, Eric Wolford, and many more.
